Betfair Hurdle big-race verdict: Matt & Liam think one horse is absolutely thrown in 🌟

‘He’s highly thought of by connections’

Despite it being a smaller field than usual, it looks like a competitive renewal. The trend of running less exposed novices in this race is set to continue. This for me is where you’ll find the most likely winner. Jpr One looks to be progressing with every run and it’s highly unlikely that his mark of 130 will be the bottom of him. He’s highly thought of by connections and can justify their faith with a big run here. – Liam Bramall

‘He is very well treated’

As a general rule, I tend to look for bigger prices to hit the frame in these big handicaps. On this occasion, however, I can’t not tip Jpr One off a mark of 130. He beat horses rated 135 and 134 on his racecourse debut, the fourth an easy winner off 118 since, all of that suggesting he is very well treated. On Jpr One’s second start he was a neck behind one rated 130, that rival though enough of to run in a Grade 1 last time. A Taunton win was achieved without breaking a sweat so in a race where novices have the majority of wins in recent years, Jpr One very much looks the way to go. – Matt Newman

‘He could be a bit special’

Nicky Henderson’s two-mile hurdlers always have to be respected in this sphere and I think First Street could be the best of his pair here. He won a pair of novice hurdles back-to-back at the end of last summer and although he disappointed in the Persian War at Chepstow, he ran keenly on the day. First Street absolutely bolted up at Kempton last month when stepping back down to this trip and he could be a bit special. – Adrian Wall

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